Rail-tie.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

H. DE FORD.

RAIL TIE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..15, 190s.

Emma bow fi ly-Ward UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

RAIL-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed March 15,1905- Serial NO. 250,255-

To It whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY DE FORD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Hardwick, in the county of Caledonia and State ofVermont, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Ties, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-ties, and has for its object to produce asimple inexpensive device of this character which will be exceedinglystrong and durable,one which will be practically free from expansion andcontraction due to climatic changes, and one which will possess therequisite amount of elasticity or yieldability necessary for heavytrafiic.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection centrally through a tie embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation, partlyin section, the section being taken transverselythrough one of the ties on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the improved tiecomprises an up er member 1, a lower member 2, and an inner lling memberor core 3, the parts being connected by members or bolts 4, enteredvertically through and adjacent the ends of the tie.

The member 1, which is practically composed of steel or other suitablemetal, is of box-like form, comprising side walls 5 and end walls 6, theside and end walls having their inner faces downwardly and outwardlybeveled or inclined, as shown herein, while the member 2, which islikewise composed of steel and comprises side walls 7 and end walls 8,has the outer faces of its walls beveled or inclined to coincide withthe inclination of the inner faces of the walls of the upper member,into which the lower member telescopically seats.

The filling member or core 3 is composed of wood or other appropriatematerial and is of a thickness slightly greater than the depth of themember 2, into which it seats, whereby when the member 1 is placed inposition over the member 2 it will rest upon and be sustained by thecore 3, thus to impart a vertical resiliency or yieldability to the tierequisite for heavy trafiic.

Formed in the upper member 1 at appropriate intervals are suitableopenings, through which spikes or other fastening members 9 are enteredand driven into the core 3, thus to secure in place upon the tie rails10.

In assembling the parts of the tie the core 3 is arranged in the member2 and the member 1 seated over the latter, thus to wholly inclose thecore, whereby the tie will be rendered exceedingly durable, it beingobvious that owin to the members 1 and 2 being provided with inclinedmeeting faces they will under pressure be caused to fit tightly one uponthe other, thus to exclude moisture from entrance to the core 3. It maybe observed that in ractice the tie will be partially embedded whichfact, in connection with the members 1 and 2 being secured to the core 3by means of the bolts 4, will practically obviate expansion orcontraction of the tie under climatic influences, thus materiallyreducing liability of the rails spreading and dispensing with the emloyment of railbraces, and, further, that t e rails may be readilyspiked to the ties and maintained securely in osition upon the latter.

From t e foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensivetie, which Will be strong and durable and one which while possessing allof the desirable qualities of a solid-metal tie will further have theelasticity requisite for heavy traffic, it being understood that inattaining these ends various minor changes of the details herein setforth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Arail-tie comprising upper and lower box-like members, one designed tofit within the other, said members having the meeting faces of theirwalls correspondingly inclined, a filling member or core inclosed by themembers, and means for uniting the parts of the tie.

2. A rail-tie comprising upper and lower box-like members, one designedto fit within the other, said members having the meeting faces of theirWalls correspondingly inclined, a filling member or core inclosed by themembers, and connecting members entered transversely through the tie foruniting the parts thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY DE FORD. Witnesses:

J. H. MoLoUD, l\/IARK E. Fos'rER.

